JACK MACLEAN BANNOCKBURN SEX OFFENDER CONVICTED AFTER SCOTLAND SCOUTING INCIDENT

A volunteer involved in an international scouting event held in Perthshire has been convicted of multiple sexual assault charges and has been placed on the sex offenders register. Jack MacLean, aged 29 and a resident of Bannockburn, was found guilty of two counts following a trial at Perth Sheriff Court. The court proceedings revealed that MacLean engaged in inappropriate and unlawful sexual conduct towards a fellow adult supervisor during the 2024 Blair Atholl Jamborette, an event that draws thousands of Scouts from around the world to Scotland.

The victim, a 21-year-old student from Stirling, provided a detailed account of the repeated assaults she endured at the hands of MacLean. She described how he persistently subjected her to unwanted physical contact, including groping her at a local pub, turning up uninvited at her tent to stroke her leg, and groping her inappropriately when she was alone in her sleeping area. The woman recounted her feelings of shock and paralysis during the incidents, emphasizing how she felt 'frozen' and overwhelmed by his actions.

According to her testimony, she repeatedly asked MacLean to stop, asserting that he was crossing boundaries. Her account detailed how she only managed to escape the situation when a fellow Scout leader intervened, escorting MacLean out of her tent after she had sent a distress message to a friend for help. She also described an incident outside her tent where MacLean approached her again, touching her leg up towards her thigh, which caused her to freeze in panic.

The court contrasted her credible and detailed testimony with MacLean’s own account, which was characterized by the judge as “bewildering.” MacLean denied any wrongdoing, claiming he had only cycled to the pub alone and had no direct interaction with the woman. His version of events was contradicted by five witnesses who testified against him, supporting the victim’s account.

Sheriff Elizabeth McFarlane expressed skepticism about MacLean’s explanations, particularly criticizing his claim that he visited the victim’s tent after midnight out of concern for another woman. Witness testimony directly contradicted this assertion, further undermining his defense.

Following his conviction, MacLean was sentenced to be registered as a sex offender. He is currently awaiting a sentencing hearing scheduled for July. The court’s decision underscores the strength of the victim’s testimony, which was deemed credible and compelling, leading to a firm conviction and ongoing legal proceedings. The case highlights the serious nature of the offenses committed during the Blair Atholl Jamborette and the importance of accountability in safeguarding the safety and dignity of all participants involved in such international events.